Bracelet construction



Dec, 30, 1930.

O. L. GAMMELL BRACELET CONSTRUCTION Filed July 13, 1927 fmmumll l lnnmlmn ||Il n' I@ Q INVENTO B @QM ATTORNEY Patented l Dec. 30, 193C UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE OVE L. GAMMELL, OF ATTLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T SMITH & CROSBY, 0F ATTLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, A COPARTNERSHIP COMPOSED OF ALFRED I).

CROSBY AND GEORGE H. CROSBY BRACELET CONSTRUCTION Application led July 13, 1927. Serial No. 205,359.

This invention relates to bracelet construction. One of the objects thereof is to provide a bracelet which is conveniently adjustable in length. Another object is to provide a. construction of the above nature which is thoroughly practical and eiiicient. Another objectl is to provide a construction of the above nature which is conveniently placed and adjusted in position upon the wrist and conveniently removable. Another object is to provide a construction of the above nature having a wide rangeof adj ustment.y Another object is to provide a construction of the above nature which is strong and durable and neat and attractive in appearance. Another objcct is to provide a bracelet of the above nature which is simple in construction and capable of being manufactured conveniently. Other objects will be in part obvious or in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangements of parts as will be cxemplilied in the structure to be hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims. v

In the accompanying drawing in which is shown one of the various possible embodiments of this invention,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a bracelet;

Figure 2 is a side view of the parts shown in Figure 1, the parts being shown in larger detail;

Figure 3 is a bottom view of the parts shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a View similar toFigure 3 with pm'tions broken away to better show the inner structure, and

Figure 5 is a section taken substantially as indicated by the line 5 5 in Figure 4.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the. drawing.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, and first to Figure 1. there is shown a bracelet comprising a plurality of links 10, a center or middle construction indicated generally in Figure l by the numeral 11, and end hooks 12 and 13 for coacting with the brackets of a wrist watch or the like. Although the particular type of bracelet illustrated in Figure 1 is adapted for use in connection with a Wrist watch or the like, it is to be understood that the features of this invention are applicable to other types of bracelets as well.. However, the invention achieves particular advantages when employed in a Wrist Watch bracelet or strap and therefore this type of bracelet has been illustrated generally in Figure 1. Also, it is to be understood that the character of the links is unimportant as pertaining to the features of the present invention, the links 10 shown herein being illustrative simply of a preferred form of Wrist encircling means.

Considering now more particularly the structure which is indicated by the reference number 11 in Figure 1, reference is made to the remaining iigures of the drawing. The outer part of this structure comprises a member 14 which is elongated in the direction of the length of the bracelet and has a top wall 15, side walls 16 and 17 and a bottom wall which does not form a complete closure in the particular embodiment here shown. consisting of inwardly projecting fianges 18 and 19. The member 14 is conveniently made of sheet metal in one piece and it preferably has a curved contour as shown in Figure 2 so as to conform somewhat to the curvature of the wrist against which it is adapted to rest.

Pivotally connected at 20 with the link 10 positioned at the right-hand end of the member 14, as viewed in the drawing, is a member 21 which is slidably received Within the Walls of the member 14, sliding thereinto from the open right-hand end. Connected to the link 10 at the other end of the member 14, preferably by a' pivotal connection 22, is a member 23 which is slidably received in the left-hand end of the member 14. The'members 21 and 23 as shown herein are flat, consisting of what may be termed a top Wall, as will be more clearly described hereinafter, but it is to be understood that these members may take various shapes, for example, they may. be provided with sidewalls and bottom walls.

On the under side of the member 21` are I formed two longitudinally extending grooves the right-hand end thereof.

24 and 25. These grooves may be cut out of the metal, but they are preferably formed by securing against the under side of the inem ber 21, as shown in Figure 5, a part 21a havi ing slots ycut therein. to form thel grooves. The members 21a (see Figure 5) thus form bottom walls with respect to which the part 2lb, all as seen in Figure 5,v is the top wall. In the inwardly facing wall 26 of the groove 24 is formed a row of notches, and on the inwardly facing wall 27 of the groove 25 is formed a similar row of notches.

Within the right-hand portion of the member 14 is secured a spring member having two spring arms 28 and 29Vextending along the sides of the member 14 and facing toward The spring member 28-29 is preferably formed in the shape shown clearly in Figure 4, having anend cross bar 30 which is fastened by means of solder 31 to secure the spring in place. As is best seen in Figure 5, the spring arms 28 and 29 rest respectively adjacent to the bottom anges 18 and 19, and the member 21 is slidably received between the spring arms and the top wall 15 of the member 14.

At its outer end the spring arm 28 is provided with an inwardly and upwardly extending lug or latch portion 32 which rests in the groove 24 and is adapted to coact with the notches or teeth of the. wall 26. The spring arm 29 has a similar inwardly and upwardly extending lug or latch portion 33 which rests within the groove 25 and coacts with the notches or teeth in the wall 27. The spring arm 28 has also adjacent its end a lug 34 which extends outwardly through aY slot in the side wall 16, and the spring arm 29 has a lug 35 `extending outwardly through the side wall 17 The member 21 is adjustably connected to the member 14 by means of the spring latch 28-29. The lugs 32 and 33 tend normally to spring outwardly away from each other and into engagement with the inwardly facing notches or teeth. By sliding the member 21 further into the member 14 the bracelet is shortened, and by sliding the member 21 in the opposite direction, the bracelet is lengthened. Preferably, the notches or teeth in the walls 26 and 27 are made in the shape of ratchet teeth which, coacting with the latch lugs 32 and 33, permit free sliding inwardly of the member 21, but prevent its outward movement. In order to slide the member 21 outwardly, the spring latch is released by forcing the two lugs 34 and 35 inwardly to move the parts 32 and 33 out of the paths of the teeth.

In the left-hand end of the -member 14, as

38 at its inner end adjacent to the cross bar 30 and secured by the solder 31. The member 23, slidably received in thc left-hand end ot' the member 14 above the spring arms 36 and 37, is provided in its under surface with a pair of grooves 39 and 40 similar to the grooves 24 and 25 of the member 21 previously described.' The inwardly facing wall 41 of the groove 39 and the inwardly facing wall 42 of the groove 40 are provided with a row of notches or teeth. The end of the spring arm 36 has an inwardly and upwardly projecting lug 43 resting in the groove 39 to coact with the teeth or notches of the wall 41, and the spring arm 37 has at its en d an inwardly and upwardly projecting lug 44 resting in the groove 40 to coact with the notches or teeth of the wall 42. Also, the spring arm 36 has a lug 45 projecting outwardly through the side wall 16, and the spring arm 37 has a lug 46 projecting outwardly through an opening in the side wall 17. The spring arms 36 and 37 tend to spring outwardly away from each other toengage with the notches or teeth to lock the member V23 against sliding. By forcing the lugs 45 and 46 inwardly the spring latch is released and the member 23 may be slid inwardly or outwardly to respectively shorten and lengthen the bracelet.

This construction provides for a wide range of adjustment in the length of the bracelet, the length being changed by sliding the member 23 or the member 21 or both. As has been described above, and as is clearly seen in Figure 4, the notches or teeth on the member 21 are formed in the shape of ratchet teeth which permit sliding of the member 21 inwardly and lock it against outwardly sliding until the latch members are released. Preferably the teeth of the member 23, coacting with the latching lugs 43 and 44, are of such a shape and nature that they lockthe member 23 against sliding in either direction. Thus, to move the member 23 to either shorten or lengthen the bracelet there--l lugs 43 and 44 by forcing the parts 43 and 46 inwardly.

Preferably, the ends 39a and 40a of the grooves 39 and 40 'are closed so that the member 23 is not completely removable from the member 14. The member 23 thus provides an adjustable connection and one which is still a permanent connection between the member 14 and the left-hand portion of the bracelet, as viewed in the drawing. T he ends 24a and 25a of the grooves 24 and 25 are preferably left open so that the member 21 may be removed completely from the member 14 by depressing the lugs 34 and 35 and drawing the member 21 outwardly. The member 21 thus provides, in addition to an adjustment of the bracelet length, a detachable bracelet connection which may be separated to facilitate placing the bracelet in posit-ion upon the wrist or removing it therefrom.

When this bracelet is in use, the member 23 is adjusted to give the desired length to the bracelet and thereafter requires no attention, the member 23 being locked by the latches against movement in either direction. When the bracelet is being placed in position upon the wrist kor removed therefrom, the member 21 is drawn outwardly. The members 14 and 2l being separated, all that is required in order to adjust the bracelet into position upon the wrist is to slide the member 21 into the member 14 until the bracelet reaches a suitable tightness about the wrist, whereupon the latching lugs 32 and 33 hold the parts in such position. To remove the bracelet from the wrist, the lugs 34 and 35 are forced inwardly and the member 21 is drawn outwardly.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention achieves many advantages of value. rIhe bracelet is most conveniently adjusted in length and, in fact, due to the ratchet teeth of the member 2l, the desired tightness of the bracelet upon the wrist is' achieved automatically when the bracelet is placed in position thereon.l The lugs 34, 35, and G are conveniently accessible at the sides of the member 14 and are easily depressed to release the latches by a simple pressure With the fingers. Moreover, the latches are conveniently accessible for releasing when the bracelet is in position on the wrist. The construction is neat and attractive in appearance, the latch mechanism and the teeth or notcheslbeing concealed linderneath the bracelet and the outer surfaces of the'members 14, 21 and 23 presenting an orderly continuity of appearance regardless of the relative positions of these parts. The construction described may be'applied to the middle portion of the bracelet, as shown in Figure'l, or it may be positioned at any other part of the bracelet may be desired.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention and as many changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim as my invention:

l. In bracelet construction, in combination, a pair of coacting bracelet members relatively slidable in a direction lengthwise of the bracelet to change the length of the bracelet,said members having plate-like portions overlapping one another, a plate-like member on the underside otI one of said members and having formed therein a plurality of notches, and means secured to the other of said members for selectively engaging said notches, said notched plate-like member being received between said last-mentioned means and said overlapping plate-like portions.

2. In bracelet construction, in combination, a pair of coacting bracelet members relatively slidable in a direction lengthwise of the bracelet to change the length of the bracelet, said members having plate-like portions overlapping one another, a sheet metal member mounted tlatwise against one of said portions and having a plurality of notches therein, and means carried by the bracelet member having said other plate-like portion for selectively engaging said notches, said notched member being received between said means and said overlapping platelike portions.

3. In bracelet construction, in combination, a link member having a top Wall and means forming a bottom wall connected thereto. said link being open-ended, a pair ot flaty link members each slidably received into one end of said link member and each having formed on its underside a plurality of notches, and releasablev means, one in each end ot said link member, for selectively engaging said notches.

4. In bracelet construction, in combination, a link member having a top Wall and means forming a bottom wall connected thereto, said link being open-ended, a pair of fiat link members each slidably received into one end of said link member and each having formed on its underside a plurality of notches, and releasable means, one in each end of said link member, for selectively engaging said notches, each of said releasable means being accommodated between the bottom wall of said link and an inserted link member.

5. In bracelet construction, in combination, a bracelet having a length adjustment member comprising ahutmentstacing in opposite directions and al second adjustment member comprising abutments `facing in one direction, a manually releasable member comprising substantially rectangular detent means for locking said first adjustment member against movement thereof to lengthen said bracelet and against movement thereof to shorten said bracelet, a manually releasable member companying substantially triangular detent means for locking the other of said adjustment members against movement thereof to lengthen said bracelet and permitting movement thereof to shorten said bracelet. and a member in which both of said manually releasable members are mounted.

6. In bracelet construction, in combination, a bracelet having a lengt-h adjustment member comprising abutments facing in opposite directions and a second adjustment member comprising abutments facing in one direction, a manually releasable member comprising substantially rectangular detent means for locking said first adjustment member against movement thereof to lengthen said bracelet and against movement thereof to shorten said bracelet, a manually releasable member comprising substantially triangular detent means for locking the other of said adjustment members against movement thereof to lengthen said bracelet and permitting movement thereof to shorten said bracelet, said second adjustment member including two coacting parts which are Separable when said locking means therefor iS released. and a member in which both of said manually releasable members are mounted.

7. In bracelet construction, in combination, an elongated bracelet member, two bracelet members slidably engaging said first member from opposite ends thereof, means comprising abutments facing in one direction for adjustably fastening together said first member and one of said two members, and means comprising abutment-s facing in opposite directions for adjustably fastening together said first member and the other of said two members, said first means permitting free movement of its associated bracelet parts only in a direction to shorten the bracelet, and said second means preventing free movement of its associated bracelet parts in either direct-ion.

S. In braceletconstruction, in combination, an elongated bracelet member, two bracelet members slidably engaging saidy first member from opposite ends thereof. means for adjustably fastening together said first member and one of said two members, and means for adjustably fastening together said first member and the other of said two members, one of said fastening means comprising a plurality of teeth providing abut-ments facing in opposite directions for lockingr the members fastened thereby against relative movement in either direction, and the other of said adjustable fastening means comprising a plurality of teeth providing abutments facing in one direction for locking the members fastened thereby against relative movement in one direction only.

9. In bracelet construction, in combination, a bracelet member having top, bottom and'side Walls, a second bracelet member slidably received within said first bracelet member, said second member having a top wall, a plate positioned upon said second member underneath said top wall thereof, said plate being formed to provide two longitudinal rows of teeth facing toward each other, and a pair of spring pressed catch members within the walls of said first member for coacting with said teeth.

10. In bracelet construction, in combination, a bracelet member having top, bottom and side walls, a second bracelet member slidably received within said first bracelet member, said second member having a top,

wall, a plate positioned upon said second member underneath said top wall thereof, said plate being formed to provide two longitudinal rows of teeth facing toward each other, a pair of spring pressed catch members within the walls vof said first member for coacting with said teeth, and means projecting outwardly through the walls of said first member to be operated manually to release said catch members from engagement with said teeth.

11. In bracelet construction, in combination, a bracelet member comprising a plate, means upon the under side of said plate providing oppositely disposed rows of teeth extending inwardly toward the longitudinal axis of said member, a second bracelet member comprising a plate adapted to slide along the upper surface of said first plate longitudinally thereof, and a resilient catch member mounted in said second bracelet member adapted to slide along the underside of said toothed means and to coact with said rows of teeth to permit adjustment of said bracelet in the direction of its length.

12. In bracelet construction, in combinaon, a pair of coacting bracelet members relatively slidable in a direction lengthwise of the bracelet to change the length of the bracelet, said bracelet members providing respectively inner and outer plate-like portions overlapping one another, a plate-like member on the underside of said inner platelike member having formed therein a plurality of notches, and means secured to the bracelet member having the outer plate-like portion for selectively engaging said notches, said notched plate-like member being received between said last mentioned means and said inner plate-like member.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specication this 25th day of June, 1927.

OVE L. GAMMELL. 

